LOS ANGELES — The spin has been spun, the Television Critics Association summer meetings have concluded. A few memorable moments:

Tim Allen’s “Last Man Standing” picks up where “Home Improvement” left off, lamenting the role of the modern, emasculated husband and father. Twenty years later, Allen is reworking the material.

Crankiest man standing:

“Men need stuff to do,” he said. “You should be able to fix stuff. I like women who know how to cook. It’s either old-school or misogynistic. When men lose this capacity, we’re left with nothing to do, like those big drone bees who get kicked out of the hive.” Old-school, old shtick.

Best power play: Some successful producers require extravagant budgets or bigger ownership rights. Others take their clout in cosmic directions. Seth MacFarlane, creator of “Family Guy,” has persuaded Fox to let him produce a 13-part science series, “Cosmos: A Space-Time Odyssey,” which Fox will broadcast in 2013 (with repeats on National Geographic Channel). He’s journeying from Baby Stewie to Carl Sagan territory, knowing it won’t be a ratings hit but might introduce some kids to science.

Best compliment: The cast of “Desperate Housewives” are “smart enough to be grateful,” according to creator Marc Cherry. They had an amazing eight-year run on a show that became increasingly ridiculous. In Hollywood, his comment counts as high praise.

Most charming, male: Paul McCartney, even though he appeared via satellite from his concert tour. The former Beatle was disarming, talking about the “magical” healing power of music, how “Yesterday” came to him fully formed in a dream, and reflections on being in New York on 9/11. What does he recall from his 1965 appearance at Shea Stadium? “Screaming. Like a thousand sea gulls.” His documentary, “The Love We Make,” airs on Showtime on Sept. 10.

Most charming, female: Zooey Deschanel, who had a roomful of critics debating whether she is “adorable” or “adorkable.” Her Fox comedy, “New Girl,” will top many “best” lists this season. It lands on the schedule immediately following “Glee” and leading into “Raising Hope,” which makes for a sweet program block (for those who still watch TV that way).

Most welcome return: Sarah Michelle Gellar says she was “burned out after ‘Buffy,’ ” which consumed her life from age 18 to 24. She’ll play twins on CW’s “Ringer” this fall, which looks slick, thanks partly to technological advances. Now that she has a daughter, Gellar wanted a job that required less travel. Since being back, she said, “I realized how much I missed it.”

Most obvious tie-in: Pepsi will be to “The X-Factor” what Coke has been to “American Idol.” Simon Cowell of “X-Factor” was at pains to explain how different that show is from “Idol.” Actually they sound quite similar, except for “X-Factor’s” lower age limit and inclusion of group performances.

Wildest showdown: Two fairy-tale series are in competition this fall, “Once Upon a Time,” Sundays on ABC, versus “Grimm,” Fridays on NBC. To hear the producers talk about their series is to take a trip to Never Never Land.

The “Once Upon a Time” creators, who previously wrote for “Lost,” worked on their project for eight years. “We’re interested in the characters,” said Edward Kitsis, creator/ executive producer. “Why is Grumpy grumpy?”

The “Grimm” creator David Greenwalt, who previously worked for “Buffy,” said, “Our notion is that the Grimm brothers are actually profilers of criminal events.” He can see the big bad wolf and the child molester, for example.

Best pitch: Felicity Huffman guessed how Cherry might write the ending of “Desperate Housewives.” She told critics at the ABC party that “all bets are off . . . maybe one housewife kills another?”

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